diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/xml/XmlFlowBuilder.java b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/xml/XmlFlowBuilder.java
index 28ca760a..15619bc4 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/xml/XmlFlowBuilder.java
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/xml/XmlFlowBuilder.java
@@ -147,6 +147,8 @@ public class XmlFlowBuilder extends AbstractFlowBuilder implements ResourceHolde
 
 	private static final String METHOD_RESULT_ELEMENT = "method-result";
 
+	private static final String RESULT_TYPE_ATTRIBUTE = "result-type";
+
 	private static final String EVALUATE_ACTION_ELEMENT = "evaluate-action";
 
 	private static final String SET_ELEMENT = "set";
@@ -754,7 +756,8 @@ public class XmlFlowBuilder extends AbstractFlowBuilder implements ResourceHolde
 		String beanId = element.getAttribute(BEAN_ATTRIBUTE);
 		String methodName = element.getAttribute(METHOD_ATTRIBUTE);
 		Parameters parameters = parseMethodParameters(element);
-		MethodSignature methodSignature = new MethodSignature(methodName, parameters);
+		Class desiredResultType = parseMethodResultType(element);
+		MethodSignature methodSignature = new MethodSignature(methodName, parameters, desiredResultType);
 		ActionResultExposer resultExposer = parseMethodResultExposer(element);
 		return getLocalContext().getBeanInvokingActionFactory().createBeanInvokingAction(beanId,
 				getLocalContext().getBeanFactory(), methodSignature, resultExposer,
@@ -783,6 +786,17 @@ public class XmlFlowBuilder extends AbstractFlowBuilder implements ResourceHolde
 		return parameters;
 	}
 
+	private Class parseMethodResultType(Element element) {
+		Element resultElement = DomUtils.getChildElementByTagName(element, METHOD_RESULT_ELEMENT);
+		Class type = null;
+		if (resultElement != null) {
+			if (resultElement.hasAttribute(RESULT_TYPE_ATTRIBUTE)) {
+				type = (Class) fromStringTo(Class.class).execute(resultElement.getAttribute(RESULT_TYPE_ATTRIBUTE));
+			}
+		}
+		return type;
+	}
+
 	private ActionResultExposer parseMethodResultExposer(Element element) {
 		Element resultElement = DomUtils.getChildElementByTagName(element, METHOD_RESULT_ELEMENT);
 		if (resultElement != null) {
diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/xml/spring-webflow-2.0.xsd b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/xml/spring-webflow-2.0.xsd
index 6e2951c7..f315652f 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/xml/spring-webflow-2.0.xsd
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/xml/spring-webflow-2.0.xsd
@@ -1012,8 +1012,8 @@ parameter type, a type conversion will be attempted.
 				<xsd:annotation>
 					<xsd:documentation>
 						<![CDATA[
-The name of the attribute that will expose the return value of the target bean-action method.
-Used in conjunction with the 'scope' attribute.
+An expression used to expose the return value of the target bean-action method, such as "#{flowScope.myResult}".
+Can be a simple literal when used in conjunction with the 'scope' attribute.
 ]]>
 					</xsd:documentation>
 				</xsd:annotation>
@@ -1035,6 +1035,16 @@ If not specified the default scope type is used ('request' by default).
 ]]>
 					</xsd:documentation>
 				</xsd:annotation>
+			</xsd:attribute>
+			<xsd:attribute name="result-type" type="xsd:string">
+				<xsd:annotation>
+					<xsd:documentation>
+						<![CDATA[
+The desired method result type.  Optional.  If specified and the method return value is not of the 
+desired result type, a type conversion will be attempted.
+]]>
+					</xsd:documentation>
+				</xsd:annotation>
 			</xsd:attribute>
 		</xsd:complexType>
 	</xsd:element>